Needle-changing device for phonographs



Feb. 11, 1930. R MFFCHELL 1,746,550

NEEDLE CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 17. 1928 2 SheerJs-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jaw/v K, MITCHELL.

BY 2 E v- ATTO EYJ.

Feb. 11, 1930. J, R. MITCHELL 5 1,746,550

NEEDLE CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGRAPHS Filed Aug. 1'7. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN n. MITCHELL, or DALLAS, 'rnxns, ASSIG-NOR, IBY MEs E ASSIGNMENTS, TO T E;

CAIPEHART CORPORATION, "or roar WAYNE, INDIANA, A GbRPORATION or IN- DIANA LlfEEDLE-CHANGING DEVICE FOR PHONOGBAPHS Application filed August 17, 1928. Serial No. 300,335.

This invention relates to a need.le;changing device for phonographs, and has for its object the provision of a hopper for receiving a plurality of needles, and means for aligning said needles and automatically positioning them with their points in proper position to be engaged and clamped in position by the needle-holding mechanism of the reproducer after a record has been played and the used needle discharged therefrom. 7

One feature of the invention resides in the arrangement for automatically positioning the needles with their points properly located whereby the needles may be deposited promiscuously in the hopper and fed in proper position to be inserted in the reproducer.

Another feature of the invention resides in the magazine for conveying the properly positioned needles intermittently in position to be engaged and gripped by the needleholding mechanism of the reproducer.

Another feature of. the invention "is the means for actuating the needle-positioning mechanism and the magazine for presenting a new needle by the movement of the tone arm so as to eliminate more complicated driving mechanism.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view looking downon the needle-changing mechanism in operative position. Fig? 2 is a side eleva tion thereof. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through a portion of the hopper and chute showing a plurality of needles passing therethrough. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the aligning disc. Fig. 5 is a partial elevation illustrating the needle-clamping device. Fig. 6 is a view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings there is shown the supporting table of a phonograph as indicated at 10 upon which is mounted for rotation a turn-table 11. Swivelly mounted upon the table 10 there is a tone arm 12 carrying a reproducer 13 pivotally mounted thereon so as to swing upwardly out of playing position. Said reproducer is provided with a needle-receiving mechanism which comprises a U-shaped tube 14 having the usual connection with the diaphragm of the reproducer adapted to receive the upper or'enlarged portion of the needle. Said U-shaped tube is open on one side so that it may engage the needle sidewise as distinguished from the needle being inserted lengthwise as in the ordinarypractice. Secured on the needlereceiving tube there is a bracket 15 through which a rod 16 extends, the end of said rod beingso formed and positioned asto engage theneedle- 17 and clamp it in position within the tube 14 under the tension of a spring18.

For arranging and holding theneedle in position to be engaged and clamped in the holding tube of the reproducer there is fixedly mounted upon the table 10 a hopper 19 in which a number of needles are carried. Onehalf of the bottom of the hopper is open, as indicated at 20, and the other half is provided with a downwardly-extending false bottom 21 for causing the needles to slide into the open portion. Rotatably mounted in the bottom of the hopper there is an aligning disk 22 adapted to rotate about the hopper and under the false bottom 21, the edge of the false bottom 21 scraping the upper surface of the disk. Said disk is provided with a plurality of perforations 23 extending radi ally from the center thereof which arejust the shape of a needle, having the pointed ends extendingout-wardly. Said disk is rotated by shaft is provided with a pinion 26 adaptedigg to mesh with a rack bar 27 which is slidably supported in a bracket 28 and has one end thereof pivotally connected with the tone arm 12, whereby upon the movement. of the tone arm from the outer to the inner portion of the record during the playing thereof, the disk 22 will be slowly rotated in one direction, and upon the movement of the tone arm outwardly to renew the playing action, the disk will be rotated rapidly in the opposite direction. y

The rotation of the disk will cause the needles to seek the recesses 23. If the needle finally drops into one of the recesses with its pointextending in the proper direction, it will remain therein until it drops through the disk. If it is not properly positioned, a portion thereof will extend upwardly from the disk and be crowded out by the other needles or the edge of the false bottom 21 as the disk is rotated.

Extending downwardly from the open portion of the hopper below the disk there is a chute 29 having an enlarged mouth 30 for receiving the needles as they drop through the openings 23 in the disk 22. The bottom 25 is formed with a shoulder indicated at 31, which temporarily supports the needle in horizontal position until the preceding needle has passed out of the way, whereupon it drops point downward into the chute and passes out through the openend thereof. Said chute terminates and discharges the needles over an annular magazine 32 having a plurality of vertically-extending recesses 33 formed about the periphery thereof, said recesses being of proper size to receive the individual needles which are discharged therein point down ward by the rotation of the magazine as each empty recess comes under the chute 29. The needles are maintained in their respective recesses 33 by a spring band 34 which has a mouth 35 formed with outwardly turned resilient lips, which permits the lateral bodily removal of the needle by the receiving tube 14.

For rotating the magazine 32 there is provided about the periphery thereof the ratchet teeth 36 adapted to be engaged by a projecting rod 37 on the reproducer, whereby each movement of the reproducer to engage and remove a needle will cause a rotary movement of the magazine sufficient to bring the following needle into position and bring the emptied recess under the chute 29. The table 10 is provided with a lug 38 against which the rod 16 contacts upon the reproducer swinging to needle-changing position. Upon the engagement of the lug, the rod 16 is moved to release the needle within the holding tube 14 and cause it to drop into a receptacle positioned in the table 10 and thereby make room for a new needle which will be engaged by the tube and clamped therein upon the arm 16 disengaging the lug 38. I From the foregoing, it will be noted that the operator may throw a handful of needles into the hopper 19 and upon the completion of each record, the needle-holding tube 14 will permit the used needle to fall therefrom by gravity and will receive a new needle from the magazine 32.

The invention claimed is 1. A needle changing mechanism for phonographs including a hopper for receiving a plurality of needles, a movable disk at the bottom of said hopper having a plurality of openings therein for receiving said needles only with their points extending in a given direction, a chute for receiving said needles upon passing through the openings in said disk, and a magazine adapted to receive the needles .from said chute and support them with their points extending in the same direction.

2. A needle changing mechanism for phonographs including a hopper for receiving a plurality of needles, a false bottom for closing a portion of the bottom of said hopper leaving an opening therein through which the needles may pass, a movable disk mounted immediately below said bottom so as to engage the open edge thereof, said disk being provided with a plurality of openings for permitting needles to pass through upon the pointed ends of the needles extending into the pointed ends of the openings, and a magazine for receiving the needles upon passing through said openings whereby they will be supported with their points extending in the same direction.

3. A needle changing mechanism for phonographs including a hopper for receiving a plurality of needles, a movable member movable with respect to the bottom of said hopper and provided with a plurality of openings corresponding to the shape of a needle, said openings being so arranged as to permit a needle to pass therethrough only upon the pointed end of the needle being properly positioned with respect to the pointed end of the opening, means for moving said member, anda magazine adapted to receive the needles passing through said openings for supporting them with their points extending in the same direction. I

4. A needle changing mechanism for phonographs including a hopper for receiving a plurality of needles, a movable member in the ottom of said hopper having a plurality of openings therein, said openings having the same formation as a needle and being so positioned as to permit needles to pass therethrough only when their points extend in a given direction, means for operating said member, and a magazine provided with a plurality of spaced downwardly extending recesses for receiving said needles passing through said member with their points extending in the same direction.

5. A needle changing mechanism for phonographs including a hopper for receiving a plurality of needles, a movable member in the ottom of said hopper having a plurality of openings therein, said openings having the same formation as a needle and being so positioned as to permit needles to pass therethrough only when their points extend in a given direction, means for o erating said member, a magazine provide with a plurality of spaced downwardly extending recesses for receiving said needles assing through said member with their points extending in the same direction, and a chute connected with said hopper for guiding the 1 needles into said magazine.

6. In a phonograph, the combination with a tone arm, of a needle changing mechanism includin a hopper adapted to receive a plurality o needles, a movable needle sorting member provided in the bottom of said hopper having a plurality of openings through which the needles are permitted to pass only when their points extend in a given direction,

therein so as to cause their points to extend in a given direction, and means operatively connecting said member and tone arm for causing said member'to be moved by the swinging action of the tone arm;

8. In a phonograph, the combination with a tone arm and a reproducer thereon, of a needle changing mechanism including a hopper for containing a plurality of needles, a magazine for receiving said needles from said hopper and delivering the same to said reproducer, a movable member associated with said hopper for positioning the needles with their polnts' extending in a given direction, and means connecting said tone arm and member v for causing the latter to be operated by the azine having swinging movement of the tone arm.

9. In a phonograph, the combination with a tone arm and a reproducer thereon, of a needle changing mechanism including a hopper for containing a plurality of needles a magazine for receiving said needles from said hop er and delivering the same to saldv reproducer, a movable member associated w th said hopper for positioning the needles with their pomts extending in a given d1rect1on,

aswinging tone arm and a reproducer carried thereby, of a needle changing mechanism in cluding a hop er adapted to receive a plurality of nee les, a rotating. disk mounted in the bottom of said hopper, said disk having a plurality of openings through which sai needles are adapted to pass only upon their points extending in a given direction, a magazine having a plurahty of needle receiving pockets formed therein, a chute for directing the needles passing through said disk,

points foremost, into said pockets, a clamping member on said reproducer for engaging. and clampihg a new needle as presented thereto by said magazine, and means actuated by the swinging movement of the tone arm for actuating said disk and moving said magazine into needle delivering position. 4

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature. v i

.' JOHN R. MITCHELL.

and means actuated bythe swinging movement of the tone arm for operating said member and moving said magazme 1n positlon to bring a new needle into engagement with said reproducer.

10, In a phonograph the combination'with a swinging tone arm and a reproducer carried thereby, of a needle changing mechanism including a hopper adapted to receive a plum rality of needles, a rotating disk mounted in the bottom of said hopper, said disk having a plurality of openings through which said needles are adapted to pass only upon their points extending in a-given direction, a maga plurality of needle receiving pockets formed therein, a chute for d recting the needles passing'through said disk, points foremost, into said pockets, a clamping memclamping a new needle as presente reto by said magazine, and a common means for actuating said disk and magazine.

11. In a-phonograph, the

combination with I 

